Nordic Rocks

“My joy today was trying skiing and my goal is to try skiing hills next time.”

“I want to be a world champion skier!”

Two students from Old Town Maine Elementary after their first time skiing

“Our students…are loving their cross country experience on the Nordic Rock skis. The bindings are easy to adjust and strap onto the child with one quick tug. Unlike the old system, these bindings are stable and so user friendly. The skis, themselves, are great and so adaptable to every kind of snow. What a wonderful addition and opportunity the Nordic Rocks program has provided to our students. Skiing in school, for many of our students, is the only opportunity that they will ever have to try cross country skiing. It’s been a raving success! Thanks so much! The Nordic Rock skis are amazing!”

Nordic Rocks Program Coordinator

The Nordic Rocks program is generously funded by the Share Winter Foundation and the Killington World Cup Foundation and was developed to introduce children in grades K-6 to the excitement of cross country skiing. Nordic Rocks provides elementary school students with an opportunity to experience cross country skiing during the school day with their teachers and classmates, and to learn the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun. The overarching goal of this program is to provide all children with the opportunity to ski as well as grow and develop life skills through sport.

NENSA assists participating Nordic Rocks schools with equipment acquisition, teaching support, a regularly updated 5-lesson curriculum, access to instructional videos, a games list, and the option for a NENSA staffer to visit the school. The Nordic Rocks equipment consists of Madshus skis with Lost Nation R&D snowboot bindings that adjust to fit any boot size. The 5-lesson curriculum is easy to follow and offers teachers learning ideas with both outdoor and indoor activities. Schools interested in joining Nordic Rocks will need a willing coordinator (usually a PE teacher), some extra volunteer help (whether parents/caregivers or additional teachers), and a flat area near the school for everyone to ski on (it doesn’t have to be anything fancy and no grooming is needed). In exchange for support, we ask coordinators to fill out a short data survey at the start and end of the ski season. This data is important to our grantors and also helps us gauge progress and fund the program.

If you want to bring Nordic Rocks to your elementary school, please fill out this short survey HERE. If you have questions, or if you are interested in helping fund this program, please reach out to [email protected].

Nordic Rocks Highlighted News:

Prospect Mountain Expands on Nordic Rocks Program

Fort River Nordic Rocks Program Story (2021-22)

Nordic Rocks Program Coordinator Portal